The Anxiety-Filled Journey Towards Getting a Parole in Michigan

Last week I came back to my cell after being outside for a while, and some unknown papers were sitting on my bed. I live in a very small 6' x 9' cell, and I'm fairly neat, so I immediately notice things that are out of place. I was curious at first, but it looked official, so my mind started racing.

After unlocking the old high school spinner style lock on my cell door, I grabbed the papers to see what they were. My heart joined my mind and began racing because the papers were my first official step towards a parole. 

Every Michigan prisoner who has an out date goes through a process that starts around 10 months before their first parole eligibility date. 

First, and this is the step I did last week, each prisoners' unit "counselor" (a misnomer because they actually do very little counseling) gives the prisoner a packet of papers to update. This packet is called a "Parole Eligibility Report," or PER for short. I, and other prisoners, must fill out primarily three pieces of information: first and second choices for housing upon parole, planned employment information, and a list of classes or other programs we have voluntarily taken in prison. Additionally, we must verify that the rest of the information listed is correct. 

I had a few small corrections to the listed information, and I provided the required information. The counselor informed me that I was well prepared, and he seemed positive about my parole chances. I'm fortunate to have family who will house me and give me a job. Many prisoners have to simply list "community placement" for their housing, and finding a job has to wait until after leaving prison. 

The second step in the process occurs about 30 days before a prisoner's parole date. Each prisoner will receive a "30 day notice," noting the prisoner's expected parole date, their parole probability (low, medium, of high) based off of a number of factors, and which parole board member the prisoner is assigned to see. 

The third step is the prisoner's actual parole hearing. This occurs via a video conference between the prisoner and a single parole board member. The prisoner is interviewed, though often the decision on a parole (or not) is already made. The interview is primarily a way for the parole board member to confirm their plan. It's up to the prisoner to not talk themselves out of a parole. Sometimes, the prisoner actually talks himself into one, if the member had planned on voting against the parole. Either way, the prisoner doesn't know the pending decision. Sometimes the parole board member will inform the interviewee what their vote will be. 

After the interview, the parole board member votes on the parole and send their report to two other parole board members. These members almost always follow the recommendation of the interviewing member. 

Finally, within as few as a couple of days and as many as two months later, the prisoner is informed about his parole decision. It's a nail-biting time for most prisoners who are unbearably anxious to know the decision. 

Occasionally, a few fortunate prisoners receive a parole "under the door." This is a parole decision without an interview. Either way, receiving a parole always comes with an asterisk. I know of several prisoners who have lost their parole because of bad behavior. It's up to the prisoner to avoid getting into trouble after their decision. 

My next post will focus on different types of parole and some of the programs Michigan offers its paroling prisoners.